Weinberg Foundation Announces New Program Director

BALTIMORE, Dec. 9, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation, one of the largest private foundations in the United States, has named Rafi M. Rone as the newest program director for the Foundation. Rone will manage grants to nonprofits that serve low-income and vulnerable older adults in Israel as well as general community grants that provide support to both the Jewish community as well as the community-at-large, primarily in Israel and Baltimore. This newly-created position includes responsibilities previously carried out by Michael Marcus, Program Director, Older Adults, who is leaving the Foundation in February to pursue other interests (details will be provided in a future media release). Aaron Merki, Program Officer, Older Adults, will continue to manage US grants within the Older Adults portfolio. Kate Sorestad, who currently serves as Program Officer, General Community Support & Libraries, will shift her focus to the Foundation's Library and veterans initiatives as well as grantmaking in Northeastern Pennsylvania, one of the Weinberg Foundation's hometown communities.

Rone, who most recently served as Vice President of Jewish & Israel Initiatives at the Joseph and Harvey Meyerhoff Family Charitable Funds in Baltimore, will begin his position with the Weinberg Foundation on January 4, 2016.

"Rafi brings more than 20 years of experience in community relations and community development to this new position at the Foundation," said Rachel Garbow Monroe, Weinberg Foundation President and CEO. "He is a highly regarded professional who has worked with dozens of Jewish organizations and managed millions of dollars in grants to the Jewish community locally and in Israel. In addition, Rafi is known as an exceptional colleague who works kindly and effectively with a wide variety of stakeholders. We are thrilled to have him join the Weinberg Foundation team."

Rone joins the Weinberg Foundation after more than five years with the Joseph and Harvey Meyerhoff Family Charitable Funds. Former Executive Vice President of the family funds, Terry M. Rubenstein said, "We are very pleased that Rafi is joining The Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation. It is a wonderful opportunity for Rafi to share his expertise more broadly. We have no doubt that we will continue to work collaboratively as we have for many years with the Weinberg Foundation trustees and staff."

In addition to his work with the Joseph and Harvey Meyerhoff Family Charitable Funds, Rone recently completed a six-year volunteer term, including several as Vice-Chair, with the Governor's Commission on Middle Eastern American Affairs. He is also a founding board member of the Leading Edge, a coalition of foundations and the Jewish federation system formed to respond to the looming crisis of executive succession in the Jewish NGO sector. In addition, Rone serves on the Associated's Israel & Overseas Commission where he has helped launch the Israel Engagement Center and the Global Connections Commission. Previous roles for Rone include Deputy Director at the Baltimore Jewish Council as well as Director of Education and Training at the United Jewish Communities.

Rone earned a Master's of Public Administration (MPA) from Columbia University's School for International and Public Affairs and his B.A. in American and Middle East History and Politics from Brandeis University. Rone resides in Baltimore with his wife, Rabbi Dana Rone Saroken, and their three children.

About The Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation
The Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation, one of the largest private charitable foundations in the United States, provides approximately $100 million in annual grants to nonprofits that provide direct services to low-income and vulnerable individuals and families, primarily in the US and Israel. Grants are focused on meeting basic needs and enhancing an individual's ability to meet those needs with emphasis on older adults, the Jewish community, and our hometown communities of Maryland, Northeastern Pennsylvania, and Hawaii.The trustees, some of whom also serve as executive officers of the Foundation, are Donn Weinberg, Barry I. Schloss,  Robert T. Kelly, Jr., Alvin Awaya, and Chair Ellen M. Heller. Rachel Garbow Monroe serves as the Weinberg Foundation's President and CEO. For more information please go to www.hjweinbergfoundation.org.

Media Contact: Craig Demchak, 443-738-1159
[email protected]

SOURCE Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation